Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-12
ress a1sa 1akotaiaM
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
Centennial OF tho Constitution OF the
United states.

Centennial of h Constitution OF the
United states.
Minneapolis journal: On the 18th of
September. !!77F7. the constitutional cgn-5
vention at Philadelphia flushed it's
llabors and signed the document On
which 1t had agreed. 1t is proposed to
celebrate the one hnndredth anniversary
OF that occasion by q suitable pageant
IN the city in which the convention dad
its work. The president OF the United
States is to preside, Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan
will command the military parade.
Juctice Miller of the SUnised Ssstes u
preme court will deliver the GRAFTON, and
there will be q poem and other suitable
texercises. saS
OF The many centennial celebrations
since 1874, none has been SO deserving
OF attention as this. The declaration OF
Independence was the courageous act OF
a few heterogeneous colonies sccldent-
ally and temporarily grouped together.
The treaty OF 1888 recognized the in
dependence of loose aggregation of
discordant republics. The adoption of
the constitution marked the birth Of q ma
ton. The British government felt quite
sure that many years would not
elapse after the treaty Of peace before
the Independents colonies would
beg to be taken back again. The hope
was not ill-founded. The confederation
was q rope OF sand. Each state did not
seem right in its own eyes; and as . rule
whatever seemed right to one state was
b tterly opposed by the rest. New YORK.
levied an import on goods brought from
New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland
quarreled over the boundary line. There
was nc uniform coinage or banking
system, Congress could make laws, but
had nc power to enforce them. There
was o heavy public debt and no means
to pay it. Forsign nations would not
treat with q government SO imbeeile, and
capitalists would make no loans to a
treasury 40 shaaowy. There were nc
manufactures. Commerce languished
Poverty prevailed. Secession and OWL
war were not improbable.
In this emergency the convention met
at Philadelphia and drafted anew form
of government. Long and acrimonious
were the debates, Keen was the disap-
continent OF many OF the result
Agreements were only reached by com
promise after compromise. Franklin
said he had expected nc better, and was
not sure it was not the BEST, Gerry
feared q civil war. Randolph knew that
nine states would never ratify. Wash
ington signed first. AS he did so, he
held up the pen and said: "Should the
states reject this excellent constitution
the probability is that opportunity vii
never again fer to cancel another III
peace; the Mt xt will be drawn in blood, ,
1t was agreed to kssp the proceedings
OF the convention secret. Had they
been published, il is very doubtful j
nine states would have ratified.
The adoption Of the constitution Great
ed q nation. The power and wealth I,
which that nation has grown are due e
the constitutional lines which it's devsI-
opment has followed. In 1857, such as
instrument OF government was an nm
tried novelty. Its success was ereatl,
doubted. Considering the Situate,
from which it rescued as, it's SUCCESS hal
been marvellous,
The instrument itself was NOT perfect
1t WAS simply the best that could b,
done at that time. Hamilton woult
have made q better constitution thar
she convention did, But Hamilton'
would never have been adopted.
Some defects were remedied peaceabl,
by amendment. One compromise lef
an opening for strife. re took a desper
ate civil war to close it.
The coloniste w1:o terribly afraid o.
9 tyrannical government. So the con
stitution guards against tyranny b,
countless checks and balances: The re-.
suit is to deprive government OF sn,
real responsibility; and to make deat
locks easy. 1t is an admirable deYic'
for not doing things. Positive acts O
far reaching result have NOT infrequentl,
been accomplished only by disregardinl
the constitution. Jefferson bough'
Louisiana, Lincoln levied war agains
secession, congress issued legal tender
paper. These things were vitality neces
sary, but they contravened the pape
constitution.
With all it's defects. to our constitu
ton, we " q nation. 1t is not
mode of government to be set aside
That is what France has done with he
constitutions, and France has had chaos
We mnst improve and adapt to moderl
circumstances by patient amendment
That is what England has done, an
England is governed by law, NOS b
bayonets.
The celebration of the 18th of Ser
TENDER should be hearty and imposing
Blood Will Tell
There is no question about it-blool